Judicial candidate says his opponent broke rules

A Volusia County judicial candidate has filed a complaint against his opponent alleging she violated election rules.

Frank Roche said he hand delivered the complaint against Dawn Fields to The Florida Bar on Friday, saying she has solicited campaign contributions in the nonpartisan race.

The two are vying for the Group 5 seat, being vacated because of Judge H. Pope Hamrick Jr.'s retirement. Fields took nearly 49 percent of the vote in the primary, and Roche came in second with about 29 percent.

"I feel it's important for judges to follow ethical standards," Roche said Monday about filing the complaint. "If they are not going to do it during the campaign, are they going to do it on the bench?"

Fields denied the allegations and said, "I guess Mr. Roche has some issues with me."

She said she has not received any formal notice from The Florida Bar, which can request a response from her before investigating or drop the complaint altogether.

Roche said he doesn't expect any answers for several months, certainly not before the Nov. 7 election.

He provided the Orlando Sentinel a copy of his complaint, which states Fields was seen personally soliciting campaign contributions at two events and at the Volusia County Courthouse. Roche did not witness the allegations, but he lists two witnesses to the incidents.

"I have never solicited funds, because it's improper," Fields said. "And I will be happy to answer any formal complaint if The Florida Bar accepts the formal complaint."

Even though The Florida Bar prohibits the candidates themselves from asking for money, they aren't forbidden from giving people who express an interest in donating to the campaign the resources to do so. Other members of their campaign are allowed to solicit donations.

Fields said she has, from time to time, given a person her campaign address or even an envelope after being approached about helping her campaign financially.

Fields has raised $26,095, which includes $3,500 in personal loans, according to campaign-finance reports. Roche has raised $24,357.17, all but $1,378.75 of which comes from personal loans, reports show.

Another issue Roche raised in the complaint focused on a Fields' campaign sign that was posted on the side of a van next to a sign for Dave Hood, a Republican candidate for the Florida House of Representatives. Judicial races are nonpartisan, and Roche thinks the placement of the signs implies Fields is a Republican.

Fields said she had nothing to do with placing the signs, and the man who did is not part of her campaign. According to records, Fields is registered as a Republican and Roche as a Democrat.

"I cannot be held responsible for a person's choice to place a sign anywhere they want to even if that placement is uncomfortable for my opponent," Fields said.